May 31, 2013

High End Malarky

Today, there was another press conference, and The Morning Call once again regurgitated malarky. Pawlowski and Reilly say that high-end apartments are coming to 7th and Linden. To help induce the disposal income  crowd, they're  going to extend the Art Walk, that should do it. Although Reilly had announced this project previously, there's a change. He's now partnering with Pennrose Properties, which specializes in harvesting tax credits for income restricted projects. I'm not one to mince words. Mixed income neighborhoods exist in large cities, where space is at a premium, not in Allentown, not at 7th and Linden Streets. What does another barbershop photo have to do with this story?  In center city Allentown, in 2013, if you look at someone for more than two seconds, they want to know what you're looking at. Imagine walking into a barbershop, in today's Allentown, and photographing strangers, good luck with that. Why would our young office worker want to spend $1000 and up a month, to live at 7th and Linden Streets?  Is he hoping to get shot at the all night convenience store?  Reilly knows better, even if The Morning Call doesn't, that's why he's bringing in Pennrose.

photocredit:molovinsky

Lehigh Valley Transit, Clearing The Tracks


One of the challenges faced by The Lehigh Valley Transit Company was keeping the tracks cleared of snow during long winters. Special cars were constructed with huge plows for that purpose, plus some regular passenger cars had small plows mounted on the front for continuous cleanup. Shown above is a special plow car stored at the Fairview Yard.







The trolley system required much more infrastructure than later buses. Shown here is track intersection being constructed in center city Bethlehem. Corresponding electric lines would have to be constructed overhead to power the cars. For your viewing pleasure, here is an introduction to an available video by Gerhard Salomon on the service in Easton.



More information on The Rockhill Trolley Museum

reprinted from May 2010

May 30, 2013

Bill Villa, The Tormentor

While Easton was celebrating the ordination of a new priest, Bill Villa was tormenting him. Not too many people want to confront Bill Villa, they just hope his vicious distortions don't come their way. The priest is an easy target for Villa, with forgiveness and all that. First a little background. Villa's daughter was tragically killed in a single car accident, about six years ago. She and a friend were out celebrating her birthday. He served about double the usual prison term for his offense. Everybody has empathy for Villa's loss, the issue is Villa's current aggressive behavior. He started out on a campaign against the District Attorney, Judge and those directly involved in the trial. Soon, he decided that you're either with him, or his enemy. His enemy list now contains 58 people, almost all of whom have no connection to the trial, what-so-ever. The list includes professors and their deans, most of The Morning Call staff, and local clergy, besides the priest. Villa contacts their superiors and demands their dismissal. If they refuse, they join the growing list. He once told me that he considers all fair in his war. He accuses people of doing to him, what he actually does to them. He describes the priest as a sadist and a cyberstalker, he describes himself as a grief stricken victim. Bill Villa is used to being the bully. He doesn't appreciate anybody speaking up against him. This post will move me up a notch on his enemy list, but those other 57 victims need a voice.

Lehigh Valley Transit Freight Service


Lehigh Valley Transit Company began their freight service in 1908, using converted passenger cars. By 1912, they were purchasing cars manufactured for commercial hauling. Various train/trolley websites specialize in the exact specifications of these trolley cars, and trace the history of specific cars. It was not uncommon for a car to be used by three or four different companies, and retrofitted for various uses. Throughout the formative years, Lehigh Valley Transit acquired smaller companies and absorbed their freight operations; The Quakertown Traction Company operated between Perkasie and Quakertown. Lehigh Valley's freight operation extended to the 72nd Street Freight House in Philadelphia.

Several years ago, Allentown lost an expert on our local train/trolley history, Gerhard Salomon. Mr. Salomon was a partner in the family jewelry store, one of few remaining gems from Hamilton Street's past.



reprinted from May 2010

May 28, 2013

NIZ & Arena Hype

Although the children selected for the arena training program won't be turned into donkeys, and made into slaves, there probably won't be any  NIZ jobs in their future. The 20 kids getting the vocational training camp scholarship are currently between 5th and 8th grade. While The Morning Call article regurgitates the Administration's propaganda that the arena zone will bring thousands of jobs and half a million visitors annually to Allentown, if there is any bloom left on that rose in four years, remains to be seen. For the 5th graders, I'm afraid the arena will already be closed by the time they graduate. If one of those children should happen to be a future engineer, he or she might find the current construction interesting. The undersized steel and prefab concrete panels along Linden Street are being supported by the diagonal braces, which in turn will frame the bleachers for hockey fans. Someone in the trades described it as a lesson in quick and cheap construction. Although I support vocational training, and applaud the Trades Council for their funding ($3,000), lets not get excited and call this Community Benefit. We have a few developers, building a few buildings for a few businesses, with a total few hundred employees. All this is being funded by state taxes. It is the nature of the politicians and developers to overstate the public benefit, but it shouldn't be the nature of the newspaper to amplify that hype.

UPDATE:  Sometimes I'm too nice, such is the case above.  In reality,  18 trade unions, although working on $600 million in construction, contributed a total of $3,000,  or $166 dollars  each.  For this paltry amount, the article states that  the deal was brokered by Pawlowski and Jeff Glazier of the School District Foundation.  Brokered by Pawlowski,  puffed by The Morning Call.  I don't fault the trade unions, I fault the newspaper,  for finding every press release by the city newsworthy.

Capernaum By The Sea


Matthew 4:13: And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum,...

Capernaum, the city of Jesus, is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The foundation of the Synagogue of Jesus, is beneath the ornate 4th century synagogue, partially restored by the Franciscans in the early 1900's.
Mark 1:21: he entered into the synagogue and taught
Nearby, the modern Church of St. Peter's House was built by the Franciscans in 1990. It's glass floor reveals the lower walls of the 5th century octagon church, which was built around the walls of St. Peter's House. Also there, shown in the photograph, is the Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles. It was built in 1931, during the British Mandate period (1917-1948).

reprinted in honor of Father Alex Joseph

Mount Of Temptation


The Palestinian Authority unsuccessfully tried to increase tourism to Jericho this year, no rush, the town might be the oldest inhabited city on earth, 10,000 years. In 1895 the Greek Orthodox Church built the Mount of Temptation Monastery, where the devil tried three times to tempt Jesus during his forty days of prayer and fast. Steeped in both the Old and New Testaments, next to Jerusalem, it is the most excavated city in the Holy Land.

related post on Jericho

reprinted from December 2010

May 27, 2013

Light Rail, Circa 1935

The Lehigh Valley Transit Company ran a trolley between 8th and Hamilton and just outside Philadelphia between 1901 and 1951. In 1913 the company completed the 8th Street Bridge, which remains one of Allentown's icons to this day.



The Liberty Bell functioned as a trolley as it stopped in Coopersburg, Quakertown, Sellersville and the different towns along the way, but approached speeds of eighty miles a hour on the open track between them. At the last station in Upper Darby, passengers could transfer to a different company to complete the ride into center city Philadelphia.










Here in the Valley the company transitioned to buses by the early 1950's, and became part of Lanta in 1972. Lanta and Easton officials might take notice that the Allentown Ticket Office, shown in above photo, is only 75 feet from 8th and Hamilton, which was the center of the business district. The intercity rail beds are pretty much gone now. The same people who now advocate light-rail, couldn't wait to tear up the tracks and make bike paths.

reprinted from May 2010

May 25, 2013

St. Matthew's Monastery


St. Matthew's Monastery in Kurdish Iraq, one of the oldest Christian Institutions in the world, was built by Christians fleeing persecution in 363 AD. Today, 16 centuries later, Christians are once again seeking shelter there. In the last decade it has been estimated that half the Christians have left Iraq. Since the Baghdad Church bombing in October, some Christians are afraid to be seen wearing a cross; Others have fled with little more than the clothes on their back. Pray for them.

St. Matthew's is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church

reprinted from December 2010. Things have only gotten worse for the Christians in Iraq, many more have fled.

May 24, 2013

Allentown Injures Mayfair

While Mayor Pawlowski cuts ribbons for the hockey people, and pats himself on the back, Allentown health inspectors burped food vendors at Mayfair for $25 each. Additionally, they got out their thermometers and made sure everything was heated or cooled to their exact specifications. Over the years, I heard numerous complaints about the health department and their selective overzealous enforcement. I knew of several Hamilton Street merchants who had to make food a couple of degrees warmer or cooler, to sell in front of their business, although it just came from their kitchen inside the store. News of this sort of harassment circulates among vendors who do these sort of shows. Pawlowski should harass the contractor working on the 15th Street. The snail pace of that job, and the consequences to commerce on the southside, is an outrage.

photocredit:molovinsky/Allentown Fair 1999

The Unemployed Consigliere

Come the new year, and Bernie O'Hare could well be out of a job. How do you explain to unemployment that you're a consigliere, and have lost your influence at the government center? If Bernie fails to get the position renewed, it won't be from a lack of effort on his part. This week he actually compared John Callahan to Abraham Lincoln. Preparing for the worst, Bernie is willing to commute to work. In addition to Callahan, he will photograph and praise Tom Muller this fall, way beyond the normal bounds of good taste. The photograph shown here was taken yesterday. Bernie injured his back and was unable to exercise for three day, during which time he gained 70 pounds.

May 23, 2013

The Fire Tower Caper

A molovinsky on allentown exclusive. The residents of Allentown are being told that if we do not sell the fire training tower to the Lehigh Valley Hospital Laboratory for expansion, we're in danger of losing a large employer. It appears much more likely that it's the back end of a long standing plan, and that the hospital is accommodating us. There have been plans for at least two years for a new fire training facility, and the city has been soliciting grants for such. The multi-story, multi-million dollar training facility is to be built adjoining the police academy in Lehigh Parkway. The location is the road and hill currently used as the temporary exit road for the park,  and also used as the exit during the Lights In Parkway. In the past this area served the public as park land, used for many years by model plane enthusiasts. The new training center would bring all the heavy fire equipment from nearby counties, necessitating a wider road, moved further east of the current single lane exit road. This would be in line with the new park tradition of spreading more macadam. molovinsky on allentown has also learned that with new adjoining police and fire training facilities, there is discussion of a new position, Public Safety Director. The Director would oversee Police, Fire and EMS. The new position would require appropriate assistants and secretaries, in The City Without Limits.

reprinted from July 2012

UPDATE: Although this blog broke this story almost a year ago, it is now coming home to roost. As it turns out, the hospital now supposedly wants the additional space just for additional parking. Needless to say, there is plenty of room at Queen City to accommodate parking, without tearing down the existing fire training facility. The new facility in Lehigh Parkway would forever deny citizens previous park land and infringe upon the park's passive intent. Michael Rosenfeld, a former director of the Allentown Redevelopment Authority, spoke out against the new plans. Pawlowski's reply: "As a city resident, Mr. Rosenfeld ought to be ashamed of himself for trying to oppose this." In The City Without Limits, opposing opinion is limited.

May 22, 2013

Allentown City Council

The race that interested me most last evening was Allentown City Council. WFMZ, as of 10:00p.m., when over 65% of election returns were in, had not mentioned that contest even once. The result turns out to be exactly as I predicted. My problem is that I didn't make the prediction here on this blog. I actually said that if any of the non-incumbents win, it will be Daryl Hendricks. Although turnout yesterday was only 11%, Pawlowski/Fleck had their machine in operation. I noticed a campaign worker in the West End, Pawlowski sign on the car, clip board in hand, working 26th Street. The losing incumbent, Jeff Glazier, did come in fifth. How much of an agent of change Hendricks will be, remains to be seen. If he does assert himself, it will not be a game changer for Allentown. If a vote is 6 to 1, or 5 to 2, the Administration still gets it's way, regardless. Independents can still run for Council, and appear on the November Ballot. Let me now make my future prediction in writing. When Peter Schweyer resigns to take the new District 22 seat in Harrisburg, Jeff Glazier will be reappointed to City Council. election chart from WFMZ

May 21, 2013

The Crassness of Allentown

The last several days I have been overwhelmed by the crassness of Allentown. Despite a $billion dollars in development, Allentown will never be a destination, because like Charlie Tuna, it lacks taste. It has become a tangled web of demolition and grant fueled insider development. Buildings will be built, and people will work here, but at five o'clock they will exit the city as fast as the poorly planned streets will allow. Every decision in the last several years has been based on private avarice, and promoted as progress. Half of the population is in a survival mode, the other half indifferent. We have a newspaper with reporters knowing that new ownership is inevitable, safely not raking any mud, grateful to have a job, and hopeful to keep it. Thanks for your visit, vote today.

picture of a Krass Brother, Philadelphia merchant of clothes.

May 20, 2013

The Dam Difference Between Easton and Allentown

Excerpted from an article by Randy Kraft on the WFMZ Website.
Will removing a dam ultimately destroy a bridge in Allentown’s Lehigh Parkway? The Wildlands Conservancy has city approval to remove the dam in the Robin Hood section of the Parkway. ..But on Wednesday night, Allentown resident Michael Molovinsky suggested City Council rule that no decision will be made to remove the Robin Hood dam until it’s certain that the bridge won’t be jeopardized....  “It’s essential that we preserve this bridge and it’s not worth jeopardizing the bridge for what is essentially a science experiment for the wildlife conservancy. The bridge belongs to the citizens of Allentown," Molovinsky said.... City planning director Richard Young will look into Molovinsky’s contention that removing the dam will threaten the bridge. Young wants to review Wildlands Conservancy’s report on the planned removal of the dam, to see if it includes “scour calculations on those bridge substructures. I hope they did that.” Molovinsky doubts the conservancy did any engineering work regarding the impact removing the dam will have on the bridge. ...“The stress on that bridge has been pretty intense,” said City Council member Peter Schweyer. “We’ve had one accident there that took out part of the railing.”...  Molovinsky said the irony of the conservancy’s plan is that an LCA sewer line runs along the stream through the Parkway and overflows in heavy rains, putting sewage into the Little Lehigh. He said environmentalists consider removing dams a way to improve stream quality, but in this case “it’s just a token” because of that sewer line. “There’s a limit to how much you can improve stream quality when you have periodic sewage spills,” he said.
The above is excerpted from an article by Randy Kraft on the WFMZ Website.

Although The Morning Call didn't write one word about City Council interceding about the Robin Hood Dam, they did publish a report today about the dams in Easton. In the article, the Wildland's representative, Abigail Pattishall, is quoted as saying the Easton deliberation will take ten years. Here in Allentown, it took ten minutes, on the phone with the prior park director.

The Story of Three Dams

The title shown above was from my original post idea list, it's now actually four dams. The Wildlands Conservancy wants to insure their funding for a decade, and has added the Easton dam to their list. It seems as if in Easton, there is recognition of the dam's historical significance, having been built with the canal. Before I proceed, let me acknowledge that there is indeed a problem with the dam at Jordan Park. Another child was recently caught in the pipe that is part of that structure. That pipe should be blocked off immediately, even before that dam's fate is determined. The third dam in the news is the Lehigh dam by the Hamilton Street bridge. A Colorado company has shown interest in a small scale hydro electric turbine for that location. Shown above is the little Robin Hood Dam, adjoining the iconic Robin Hood Bridge. This dam, dating back to 1941, adds to the ambience and experience of Lehigh Parkway. Removal of the dam could well endanger the bridge, and consequently, parking and use of the park. City Council has committed to prohibiting it's removal, until which time all ramifications are considered.

They Shoot Horses

In the vernacular, the 1969 movie, They Shoot Horses, Don't They, about Depression era marathons, refers to ending the misery of suffering people. That's how I feel about elections, one day before Election Day. The voters have some interesting choices, in both the city and county races, but at this point in time, that's all this blogger wishes to say.

May 19, 2013

The Train Of Dorney Park

 By Wally Ely
 In 1934, times were tough — in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the United States. The Great Depression was rampant. Unemployment kept willing and able workers out of jobs, with some in food lines or soup kitchens. Dorney Park was just hanging on, waiting for better days. There was no way the park could afford anything new to keep interest in the amusements alive. Nobody could afford to come to the park in 1934, especially not to spend any money. Bob Plarr, park president, was not accustomed to sitting back, waiting and hoping for things to improve. Plarr had an acquaintance, Miles Erbor, from the nearby village of Wescosville. Erbor, known as Mike, ran a machine shop in his garage. Erbor floated his bright idea for a new ride at Dorney past Plarr, and he loved it! Erbor's thought was to build a miniature version of the national train sensation of the day, the Burlington Zephyr. He could do it economically, with many used parts he had on hand.... The new Zephyr traveled the route an old steam engine-powered open-air train had traveled around the west end of the park. The Zephyr Jr. started near the main crossing of Dorney Park road, which divided the park; it continued along Cedar Creek parallel to the Water Skooter boat ride and then passed the swimming pool and rumbled through a short storage building, which served as a tunnel. At the far end, the route approached the boating lake and began to circle back. On the return trip it passed the picnic groves, more Water Skooters, and finally the rocket ship ride and the old mill. A final turn across the bridge near the French fry stand brought the ride back to the beginning. The announcement of the new ride at Dorney Park was welcomed by the community; there weren't many positive announcements in those days. The public responded. Crowds appeared at the park to buy the nickel tickets for a Zephyr Jr. train ride. The nickels added up, and a new, steady cash flow helped pay the bills and enabled Dorney Park to ride out the Depression.....

The above is excerpted from a column written by Wally Ely which appeared in The Morning Call on May 5, 2013. The photo has been added.  Ely is a history,  train buff and author, who has written a book on Dorney Park.

May 17, 2013

The Mad Men of Allentown

Back in the day, the titans of Allentown would fill the five barberchairs of the Colonial Barbershop, 538 Hamilton Street. That was when the town had three department stores. That was when Wetherhold and Metzger had two shoe stores on Hamilton Street. That was when Harvey Farr would meet Donald Miller and John Leh at the Livingston Club for lunch, and discuss acquiring more lots for Park & Shop. By 1995 all that was gone, but Frank Gallucci, 82, would still give some old timers a trim. The Colonial Barbershop property, closed for many years, has been purchased by J.B. Reilly. It is my pleasure to present this previously unseen portrait of Gallucci, toward the end of his career.

 photocredit:molovinsky

The Dinosaurs of Sumner Avenue

Up to the early 1950's, Allentown was heated by coal, and much of it came from Sumner Avenue. Sumner was a unique street, because it was served by the West End Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The spur route ran along Sumner, until it crossed Tilghman at 17th Street, and then looped back East along Liberty Street, ending at 12th. Coal trucks would elevate up, and the coal would be pushed down chutes into the basement coal bins, usually under the front porches of the row houses. Several times a day coal would need to be shoveled into the boiler or furnace. By the early 1970's, although most of the coal yards were closed for over a decade, the machines of that industry still stood on Sumner Avenue. Eventually, they took a short trip to one of the scrap yards which are still on the avenue, but not before I photographed them.

photocredit: molovinsky

reprinted from December of 2011

The Coal Yards of Sumner Avenue

The West End Branch train line ran along Sumner Avenue, crossed Tilghman diagonally at 17th Street, then looped back east, at the northeastern end of the Fairgrounds, terminating at 12th and Liberty Streets. The branch allowed this area to become the coal district of Allentown, when city homes were mostly heated by that fuel. In the early 1970's,  I photographed Sumner Avenue. Although the coal era was mostly over, some relics still remained. Shown above is a coal sorter at the Morris Wisser Coal Company, at Fulton and Green Streets.

photocredit:molovinsky

May 16, 2013

Police Chief Hoopla

Despite a press conference about transparency and public input, sources have told molovinsky on allentown that  three contenders for Police Chief have already been picked, and provided me with the names. All these gentlemen have current or former ties to the Lehigh Valley. I will not reveal their names at this time, so as not to jeopardize their chances. Is it possible that the public is not really part of the decision? Would that be new for Allentown?
UPDATE:Please note that I have changed the word finalists to contenders. My sources state that at least one of contenders would drop out if his ultimate selection is in doubt. They expect Wasserman, the hired consultant, to bring at least three additional applicants to the table, for his fee.  Interesting how the mayor is promising public input this election year for something that is usually an executive decision.  It would have been nice if the public had a voice in the  trash to energy plant, the arena, the water lease or any of the previous decisions.  But,  you won't have a real voice this time either,  even City Council doesn't get that.

The Hamilton Street Bridge

The current Hamilton Street Bridge was completed in 1959, replacing the former steel trestle bridge. With the new Hamilton Street entrance ramp aligned further to the south, a small portion of front street and a few houses were vacated. Additionally, an entrance ramp was added from Union Street, which previously ended at Front Street. The photo above shows a portion of the earlier bridge and the former A&B meat packing plant, beyond their office building.  The office building has been incorporated into the America On Wheels Transportation Museum. lower photo shows entrance to former steel trestle bridge, with entrance ramp skirting A&B Packing House.

May 15, 2013

O'Hare Fumbles Assist To Browning

In a post last evening meant to bolster Dean Browning against Scott Ott, Bernie O'Hare inadvertingly raises some questions which could end up hurting Browning. O'Hare's premise was that Browning out-raised Ott two to one, and that half of Ott's donations came from local business woman, and County Commissioner, Lisa Scheller. An analysis of Browning's contributions show that half of his contributions came from out of state, and seem to be dominated by the private aviation industry. An anonymous comment on O'Hare's blog reveals that Browning works for Jeff Citron, a financier who received a monumental fine by the securities exchange. Bernie's fumble was that in criticizing a candidate for being supported by a locally respected business woman, it ended up being revealed that his candidate of choice, is supported by a national figure with a controversial reputation. None of this would normally interest me, except for one of my unwritten posts. In that post, never put to words before, I question if there is an attempt to sabotage The Lehigh Valley Airport. The board of directors seems to make one poor decision after another. Recently, they hired the private company director who failed to retain a major airline. They now have invested in a custom station for international flights, when they cannot even be competitive domestically. Cunningham appointed Pawlowski to the board when he knew that Pawlowski's sole interest was selling Queen City. The future County Executive could have a large role in deciding if that airport will ever serve the interests of the public, or just private aviation. I'll let O'Hare pick up the worms, he's the one who dropped the can.

Bernie's Over Enthusiasm

Occasionally, I have to take my fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare to task for his enthusiasm for one candidate over another. Me, I don't like anybody. Long time readers of O'Hare know that he likes Dean Browing, but dislikes Wayne Woodman and Scott Ott. He currently has a post demonizing Woodman's wife, Lisa Scheller, for contributing half of the funds raised by one commissioner candidate, $5,000. In another post today,  he accuses her of trying to subvert democracy, by contributing to the executive branch race, while she's a legislator. If he would apply the same aspersions to Brown's campaign report, he could report that Brown raised $5,000 each from two sources out of state. He also raised $2,500 or more from 14 more people out of state, many from Texas. He could say that Brown raised over $57,000 from interests outside of the state, almost as much as Ott raised altogether. Expect a long defense from O'Hare.

May 14, 2013

Angelina Jolie's Courage

This post is out of my normal comfort zone. I seldom use this space to comment on national or international issues, certainly not celebrity news. However, the disclosure by Angelina Jolie that she had a preventative double mastectomy, strikes me as very courageous. It would be courageous for any woman to make such a revelation, but for a sex appeal goddess, it took courage of notable mention. She will be an inspiration to other women conflicted by similar test results, showing the high probability of impending breast cancer. Her husband should be also commended for his support in her difficult decision and public disclosure.

Allentown's Park Dilemma

Last night, I had an opportunity to listen to some environmentalists express their wish list for our park system. I noticed an irony that they would never acknowledge. Although they support, in lockstep unison voice, riparian zones, they are equally concerned about invasive species. Seems as if these riparian, no mowed zones, are ripe for the proliferation of invasives. The control and removal of the invasives requires much more manpower than just cutting the grass; much more manpower than the park department and/or volunteers could ever realistically expend. I have heard, through numerous sources, that even the riparian zones that were supposedly expertly planted,  by the Wildland Conservancy, had no follow up maintenance. Invasives had to be controlled by mowing in the fall. In other words, these are taxpayer, grant funded science experiments, which compromise both the view and access to the streams, for no real purpose other than making the ecology types feel better about themselves. Perhaps, the classic park designers of yesteryear, actually knew more about sustainability than our green friends realize.

This classic postcard, circa 1945, shows Lehigh Parkway's east entrance, with the Boat Landing. In 2009, with help from friends, I uncovered the previously buried Landing. Support our historical park system.

The Barbershops of Allentown's Past

photocredit:molovinsky
I was never a frequent patron, but one of my reoccurring photographic interests was barbershops. Although Allentown now has more barbershops than ever, mine are from a different era. Some of the shops still exist, although the name and clientele has changed. Shown above is the former K&K, on S. 6th Street, still a barbershop. This image was taken in 1996.

All photos on this blog will enlarge when clicked.

May 13, 2013

The Parkway Bridge

General Harry Trexler hired Meehan and Associates, of Philadelphia, to design Lehigh Parkway's Robin Hood area. In 1935, when the WPA began it's park projects, Allentown was shovel ready. Although the General was killed in 1933, his trust was already established in 35, and helped fund the monumental structures. In addition to the park entrance wall, the WPA built the bridge, to provide a parking and a picnic area for park enjoyment. A dam was built 18 feet beyond the bridge, to complete the magic that has endured during the last 78 years. Although the WPA used experienced stone masons, they were not bridge engineers. The Wildland's Conservancy has received a grant to remove 9 dams, including the Robin Hood dam, by the bridge. How this removal will effect the durability of the bridge piers, and ambience of the Robin Hood, has not been considered. Although generally dam removal improves water quality, in this case, the net result would just be tokenism. A major sewage line runs right next to the stream, which occasionally overflows during heavy rains. To jeopardize the bridge, considering these realities, would be poor park management. The permission to remove this dam was given in the transition period between park directors. This evening, I will attend a meeting and have an opportunity to meet our new Park Director. Let the Conservancy instead remove 8 dams, and ensure that our WPA bridge is not endangered.

May 12, 2013

Images Of Allentown Past, #2


Tillie's Bakery, on the narrow 900 block of Liberty Street, was actually a family factory outlet store. Behind the house, whose living room served as the store, facing an alley called Fountain Street, was Long's Bakery. Long's produced small plastic wrapped shoefly pies and breakfast cakes, which were distributed in local grocery stores throughout Allentown. Tillie Long would open the bakery store several hours each day, and the small selection of wrapped bake goods would quickly be snatched up by knowledgeable neighbors. Peter and Tillie operated the factory and bakery front for the better part of a century. Afterwards, the business was operated by their son, William. The bakery building on Fountain Street is now apartments.

May 11, 2013

The Bicycle Lanes Of Allentown

In what will be neither scenic or safe, Allentown is starting to mark off it's new bike lanes. One lane of Turner Street in center city will be eastbound, while westbound will waste one lane of Linden Street. The lanes will be virtually unused by bicyclists, but will succeed in congesting traffic during the weekday business hours. Here's an opportunity for our ten City Council candidates to chime in on the wisdom of this project. Although the plan received virtually no support during the planning stage, Pawlowski went ahead with it anyway. I will periodically change the photograph used on this post during the next couple days. Pedal on my spandex friends.
UPDATE:  I have just been informed by a reader that I misunderstood the new plan, the the symbol is for Shared Lane Use, called Sharrow.  The right lane can be used by both motorists and bicyclists, with the bicyclist permitted to use the middle of the lane.  How many center city residents will know the meaning and protocol for the symbol?    I'm relieved that the city modified it's original bike only lane plan.  Apparently, the Administration decided to go ahead and spend the money with the stencil company.  Check back for changing photographs.

May 10, 2013

As Allentown Turns

Linden Street is reduced to one lane today, as a private contractor installs stencils on the street for the bike lane. I had forgotten about this idiotic plan. Let us hope that the projections for the arena's success are more realistic than their vision for the bike lane's use. Also observed on my patrol today was the unbelievably slow progress of the 15th Street Bridge project. More concrete and steel is completed in one day on the arena and City Center buildings, than has yet to be completed on the bridge. The entire southside of Allentown remains prisoner to misplaced priorities. Talking of misplaced priorities, yesterday the Administration applauded itself for starting the eastside fire house, a year and half late.
UPDATE: ABOUT THIS POSTCARD- Earlier this week I used a postcard of Lehigh Parkway in the Give A Damn, Save A Dam post.  Both cards have a similar coloration and were photographed by Harold Becraft in the early 1950's.  Becraft was a photographer from Suffern N.Y.,  who produced many of the images used in the postcards of Allentown's parks.  These cards were produced locally by E.H. Schall Co.  In addition to Becraft's name on the front, they're also marked Kodachrome.  Although Becraft did many park scenes for Schall, the image shown above is one of his few cityscapes.

Local Current Artists: Alison Bessesdotter

Usually, when you meet a good artist who is prolific, they are also so versatile it's hard to define their work.  Among many other descriptions, it can be said that Alison Bessesdotter makes tranquil paintings and watercolors that resemble fabric. She also makes fabrics which resemble paintings. Her tools, paint, brush and sewing machine are used interchangeably, sometimes all on one piece. If that merging isn't enough, she also puts her art on wearables, both jackets and wristbands. Bessesdotter recently moved her studio from Hamilton Street to the Banana Factory in South Bethlehem.

May 9, 2013

Images of Allentown Past, #1

photocredit:molovinsky
Over the years my camera has caught many images which can no longer be seen. Some have been recent victims of the changing city, others not seen for decades.

Evil Eva's/South end of 8th Street Bridge/2005

The Gordon Street Paint Shop

As a boy growing up in Little Lehigh Manor, I vaguely remember the trolleys. The final switch over to buses occurred in 1953. Although the major trolley and bus barn was the Fairview facility near my house, the Lehigh Valley Transit Company also had other storage and work sites. The west end trolley barn, at 14th and Gordon Streets, also served as their paint shop. Although the location has been a wholesale plumbing supply business for many decades, until recent years the tracks leading into the current warehouse were visible. The photo above dates from 1938, and shows a freshly painted trolley.

May 8, 2013

Dam Removal Threatens Bridge

An on site engineering consultation made the following points.

Removing a dam is one thing, removing a dam next to a bridge is another. 

After the dam is removed, expect the creek bed to be several feet lower. 

The bridge piers must first be evaluated for depth and condition.

Did the Wildlands Conservancy provide the City of Allentown with the proper engineering studies to confirm that removing the dam will not have an adverse effect on the bridge?  Is the City of Allentown willing to jeopardize the citizen's iconic Robin Hood Bridge to accommodate a pet project of the Wildlands Conservancy? The dam removal will significantly increase the velocity of the stream and accelerate pier scour. Will the Wildland Conservancy indemnify the City for consequential bridge re-mediation or replacement?

May 7, 2013

Give A Damn, Save A Dam

The post card above dates from the early 1950's. Allentown's Lehigh Parkway, especially the Robin Hood area, attracted national attention for it's beauty and integration of the spectacular WPA structures. This occurred because two years prior to the WPA era, General Trexler had plans made up for the Parkway. Allentown, in the current vernacular, was shovel ready. The bridge, little dam, and double stepped structure provided the park visitor with both beautiful sights and sounds. The Wildlife Conservancy has received a grant for close to half a $million dollars to remove dams in Allentown's park system. Nobody is paying attention. Mayor Pawlowski, not too interested in the parks anyway, is consumed with his development projects. The Conservancy is politically correct in this era of ecology. The thing is that this park, and especially this area of the park, is not a wildland, but a historical icon of Allentown. Please help me save our heritage, help me save this little dam.

May 6, 2013

Junior Scientists To Alter Park System

The junior scientists of the Wildlands Conservancy have been given permission by The City of Allentown to remove four dams along the Little Lehigh and Jordan Creeks. These dams have been in place since the 1930's. Experienced fishermen worry that their removal will allow muskies and other large predators to move upstream and endanger the trout population. Between the opinion of fishermen and junior scientists, I'll take the fishermen any day. The park department is officially leaderless at the moment. While the former director moved on, the new one has not yet been confirmed. Although the Conservancy got a grant to remove the dams, how much would it cost in 2013 dollars to replace these dams? As a park walker, I can attest to the beauty and sound of the water cascading over these short one foot drops. The current administration should protect our park's history, until which time the citizens are in consensus with such drastic changes.
UPDATE: The new park director was confirmed at the last city council meeting. The Wildlands Conservancy was previously allowed to create riparian buffers in the park system, denying park users the traditional view and access to the streams, now the dam removals. I think the time has come for a discussion: Is the park system to be used as a laboratory for the Wildlands Conservancy, or an asset for the citizens?  Were the parks meant to be wildlands, or to benefit from landscape architecture as envisioned by Harry Trexler and others? Are these decisions to be made by a series of itinerant park directors or the citizens of Allentown? photocredit:The Morning Call/Donna Fisher

May 5, 2013

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Although Carmen Bell took advantage of the press conference and photo opportunity against the water lease, she was not willing to commit to being opposed. Instead, she suggested more opportunity for dialogue, and informing both the citizens and council on all the options. As the election draws nearer, three weeks, she has opted out of the anti-lease, anti-administration group. Melman, Todd and Velez will present themselves as a slate for transparency and responsiveness. The incumbents, Guridy, O'Connell, Glazier and Moto must stand on their record. Incumbent Joe Davis is running unopposed for a two year seat. Carmen Bell will join Daryl Hendricks as a stand alone candidate, but without his connections to the community.

May 4, 2013

A Revolting Development

At the end of every episode of The Life Of Riley, Chester Riley would say "What a revolting development this turned out to be." If I was Dave Erdman, Editor of The Morning Call, I might have uttered those words at the History Museum on Blogger Night. The paper did everything right to promote the event. In addition to continuous notices in the hard copy paper, and the digital version, they offered free trial digital subscriptions, plus food and beverage for attending. It truly was a well done production. Never the less, not all the winning bloggers even attended, much less any general public. Despite all the publicity, the needle on the site counter for this blog hasn't moved. I make a point of listening to what is discussed in diners in the morning. The recent police raid on the stripper club garnished much more interest than the water lease. Interest in the news, either main stream or alternative, is minimum in this town. Half the population is in a social economic survival mode, which consumes their attention. The other remaining half is indifferent, at least to local affairs. Those of us that are interested in such things may have the problem requiring help.

May 3, 2013

Wimpy's Revenge

After some deliberation, Bernie O'Hare and I decided that we would solicit support for the 2013 blog contest. We would both do a post, and drafted Wimpy, as we did in 2012. I put the post up in early April, and placed Wimpy on my sidebar. Two days later, I asked Bernie about his post, and he replied, "I forgot, I'll do it." Although he never remembered, I never said anything, but didn't forget. It's nice for Bernie that I would grovel for our votes, while he could remain the dignified journalist. Bernie didn't attend the award ceremony last evening, but I volunteered to take his prize. If he acts quickly, he might still find it. It's in a city trash container near 6th and Chew.

May 2, 2013

The Real Neuweiler Story


A feature story in today's Morning Call omits the fact that several years ago the City of Allentown stole the brewery from the rightful owner. Just as merchants of Hamilton Street were never allotted the opportunity to benefit from city arranged grants or the NIZ, the former taxpaying owner of the brewery was never given any assistance. Mayor Pawlowski can't stand private investors, if he didn't give you a grant, you're not worth much. In the early 70's, the City and Redevelopment Authority gave control of the Neuweiler Brewery to a friend. Under the City's watch, windows were removed and exterior walls broken through to remove the brewing tanks and piping for scrap. All metal, wires and any object of value were crudely ripped out in an orgy of demolition. With a large opening in the back wall smashed out, the basement was used as a free landfill by a roofer.
What should be mentioned about the XXXX roofing property is the fact that when I was involved with the brewery property in front that the owner at one point had compiled evidence of the roofers illegal disposal of environmental hazards and that when the evidence was to be presented to the City that he was not only arrested, for issues regarding the building, but the evidence was just disregarded. That property would stockpile environmental hazards in the back and then when the pile got large enough a large dump truck with a front end loader would show up. A bunch of work would go on out back and "poof" no pile of garbage. Also, when he would do slate roofing (which is covered in petroleum) he would just dump it on the rear of the property and when the piles would get high, he would level the property off, even into the railbed in the rear. (anyone that doesn't believe me on this one, go take a walk on the rails behind the property you will see it). former caretaker of brewery property

 Still the building remained iconic, because of it's rich industrial architecture. In 2003 a New Jersey investor bought the building for over $200,000 in the condition shown in the photograph. The building has been in that condition since the late 70's. His hope was at some point the City would appreciate the landmark. and cooperate in its revival. He must have found the building citations from the Pawlowski administration mind-numbing; Can you image being held responsible for carnage committed by a previous owner under the City's watch? Mayor Pawlowski, afraid someone might want to invest private money in Allentown and pay real estate taxes, had the Neuweiler owner jailed when he came to Allentown to discuss the property. The city, through the Redevelopment Authority, then seized the brewery. The former Neuweiler garages, behind the brewery, were sold years ago to a roofer. A couple years ago the City purchased the roofer's property for close to a $million dollars, reuniting the parcel. The Morning Call story today is about the hope and potential of the site, but I thought you might want to know about the City's complicity in it's sordid past.

portions of this post are reprinted from May 2008
UPDATE: The following was received as a comment on June 14,2012, by the former caretaker of the Neuweiler property:The Neuweiler property has many many secrets hidden within it that the City does not know about environmentally. The bottling house along Front St at one point was cleaned up the DEP (state) and was an absolute disaster then. I remember a few years ago, as well as in the ‘80s, that they City made the comment about just tearing it down. I made myself a little phone call to them and needed to inform them that if they would demolish the building that they would have to completely rebuild the roads around the building and regrade the property seeing as the building is holding them up. Regarding the former owner of the larger buildings, the building was not actually purchased, the mortgage was. Mr. Kellner bought the mortgage in foreclosure. The owner, Hanna Industrial Properties, fell on hard times with the loss of his primary funding source. Once Mr. Kellner took over the property the City was giving him fines of thousands of dollars a month because of appearance issues with the property. I have a copy of the inspection report that the fines were based on, it is ridiculous. Since they took over have they done anything to alleviate the code violations that exist? Lead by example. The City actually took the property via eminent domain as the original site of the arena project. for some reason, their sights were then changed (no pun intended) to the Center Square one. The developer of the Arena fronted the near $1M to purchase the 16 W Liberty St property, the rear parcel, in the form of a loan to the Redevelopment Authority. They last year, defaulted on that loan. The last year that Mr. Kellner owned the property, the City even went as far as to demolish the iconic Neuweiler smokestack. How did they do this you may ask, they went back into the archives and decided to act on a raze or repair order from 1979, mind you the demolition occurred around 2007 or 8. We had an engineer come out and certify the structural integrity of the property as well and they demolished it anyway. I personally showed at least 20-30 real estate developers through this property in the almost 5 years that I was involved in it, most of them sent through City Hall or the county. Each one of them had the same thing to say, there is no money to be made there. There is no way with the amount it would cost to just renovate the building and convert it into anything that the rental that would be required to fund the project would be too high for the area. This is without the environmental issues. My question is, how is the City going to make this happen? My thought is that this is Phase 2 of the City's NIZ project, the arena being Phase 1. I also just took a look at the “study” that was done by cornerstone for the property and just right off the top of my head I find it very shady. There are parts of the building that were obvious issues that were omitted or made to be less than what they are. John P. Chapkovich

reprinted from July 2012

UPDATE May 2, 2013: Yesterday, The Morning Call reported that Ruckus Brewing is buying the Neuweiler property from the city for $1.7 million and will indeed have NIZ funds for it's redevelopment. Above I reprint my post from last year, outlining the City's complicity in distressing a property, and then stealing it.  molovinsky on allentown, providing the real story behind the shenanigans.

UPDATE 7:30a.m.:  Despite  The Morning Call's front page feature story sporting illustrations, pictures and charts,  Ruckus is nothing more than the hype of a 30 year old marketing promoter.  It has no brew pub experience,  no  real estate experience,  and a very limited distribution of it's contracted beer.  Their business appears to be a small marketing office in New York City, which already is featuring the Neuweiler Brewer's Hill Project on their website as an accomplishment.